Camping

Dethleffs isn't the only company pondering an electrified camping trailer. Australian firm OzXcorp is hard at work on a supplementary e-drive to turn hard-edged off-road caravans into semi-self-propelled machines with Level 4 autonomous capabilities.

Queensize debuted with one of the weirdest camper vans ever, but now it's coming back down to Earth. Its new Inside Two VW van supports everyone from rootless adventurers to road-bound coworkers with a smart transforming kitchen and toilet room.

Pop-up tent campers are an age-old way of enjoying a light tow and roomy base camp, but they're not always as quick or easy to set up as the term "pop-up" suggests. The Easy Caravanning TakeOff follows through on the pop-up's promise of quickness.

The RV world reached new heights in the 2010s, laying the groundwork for a bigger decade to come. Camper concepts we saw over the decade showed an industry ready to apply the latest technologies in creating smarter, more luxurious, more stylish RVs.

The van life trend showed no signs of pulling back this year. In fact, 2019 was a pivotal year that saw camper vans growing smarter, more practical and more efficient with some impressive technological breakthroughs and design innovations.

Teardrop trailers typically feature a wood body, but manufacturers have been moving away from the wood. The latest to roll into our view is the High Altitude XT50, a foam-core composite shell with cozy sleeper interior and tailgate galley.

The new ERV from Retreat Caravans brings the race to go electric to non-motorized vehicles. Its lithium battery and solar roof are tasked with running all-season climate control, indoor/outdoor entertainment, electrified kitchen gear and much more.

After hitting the scene with an innovative expanding roof-top tent, iKamper reworked it, set Kickstarter on fire with a $2 million campaign, and became a brand name in the camping scene. Now it's reaching out to small car owners with a Mini version.

The VW California continues to capture imaginations, but it's other camper vans with origins in Westphalia now pushing the envelope. The Mercedes Marco Polo becomes the smartest small camper van on autobahns, gaining new smart home-style control.

The US may not have Europe's market of affordable, mass-produced camper vans, but it holds its own in off-grid vans custom-built around adventure sports. Many are focused on summer, but Titan offers a Sprinter year-rounder built for ski/surf bums.

Last time we looked at the SLRV Commander 8x8 two-story motorhome, it was still in the build, but it has since been completed. An engineering marvel, the wheeled explorer yacht brings together a military-grade shell with a duplex interior.

Australians don't compromise when it comes to tough camper trailers. So if you're named "Australian Off Road," your "most basic model yet" includes a galvanized steel foundation, airy queen bedroom, lithium-based electrical system and large kitchen.